Areas of expertise:

• Software Engineering:
  • Java : client/server, desktop apps, database frontends, J2EE, RMI, JNI
  • Other programming: C, C++, Fortran, Python, Jython
  • Scripting: perl, php, javascript, shell, html
  • Unix/Linux system administration (Solaris/Red Hat/ Mac OS X in particular)
  • Informix/MySQL (SQL ,stored procedures, ER diagrams)
  • XML (JAXP, XERCES-J)
  • OOP/OOD
• Mathematical physics, underwater acoustics, numerical modeling and simulation

Work Experience:

NIWA, Auckland, New Zealand, Nov. 2008 - Present
• Sr. Software Engineer - Systems Development Team

Alchemy Group Ltd., Christchurch, New Zealand, Feb. 2008 - Nov. 2008

• Software Engineer
  • Java development of Schola, a web-bases Student Management System (SMS)

NIWA, Christchurch, New Zealand, Mar. 2006 - Jan. 2008

• Software Engineer
  • Java development of RiskScape, a decision-support tool that converts existing natural hazard exposure information into likely consequences for a region, such as damage and replacement costs for buildings and infrastructure, casualties, disruption and number of people affected.
  • Web interface to legacy (Fortran) irrigation water scheduling and allocation code.
  • Landslide prediction modeling.
  • Code enhancements for NIWA's Topnet hydrological model.

Infrared Analysis and Processing Center (IPAC), California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, Ca., Sep. 1998 - Feb. 2006

• NASA Herschel Science Center (NHSC)
  • Herschel interactive scientific analysis (IA) software
  • PACS (Photodetector Array Camera & Spectrometer) instrument simulator
  • CVS server administrator and system administration support
• Spitzer Science Center (SSC)
  • Java database front end utilities to visualize and administer complex assembled data sets
  • Registered File System (RFS) server and command line clients.
    - registered file repository composed of a file system accessible to a RFS server and a file registration database.
    - provides controlled and secure file transfer and storage by registering all file transactions and meta-data in the file registration database.
    - provides file versioning by managing soft links to distinct versions of a file.
    - provides an API for application programs to communicate with the RFS server.
  • Lead software engineer for AIRE (AOR/IER Interpreter and Resource Estimator) uplink subsystem.
    - AIRE interprets astronomers' observation requests to calculate resource usage and sensitivity estimates and generates high level spacecraft command sequences.
    - AIRE interfaces with other system components via a Weblogic application server and RMI.
    - An interactive version allows instrument specialists to construct high level instrument spacecraft command sequences.
    
  • XML schema and java ingest software for engineering observation requests.

Science Applications International Corporation, Torrance, Ca., Apr. 1997 - Sep. 1998

• Sr. Software Engineer
  • Design and prototype application to schedule and task satellites for imagery collection.
  • Java desktop application to coordinate and inject weather and GPS related effects into distribute interactive simulated (DIS) battlefield exercises.
  • Browser based java configuration and task management software
  • Data reduction and modeling for next generation space based missile early warning system (SBIRS)
  • UNIX system management (Solaris, Irix)

Hollywood Online, Santa Monica, Ca., Feb. 1997 - Apr. 1997

• Sr. Applications Developer - automation of web page production through use of Perl scripting

Presence Information Design, Pasadena, Ca., Apr. 1996 - Jan. 1997.

• Software Engineer
  • Java desktop applications part of Presence's proprietary Web/database technology suite
  • Oracle front-end tools.
  • PERL programming including tailored server plug-ins, CGI scripting, dynamic web pages, log parsing, and proprietary site integration language.

Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Marine Physical Lab., San Diego, CA, Oct. 1994 - Mar. 1996.

• Post-doctoral research in underwater acoustics. Applications of ocean acoustic signal processing techniques to location of sources of structural vibrations. FORTRAN 77/90 numerical modeling/simulations.

Georgia Institute of Technology, W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Atlanta, Feb. 1988 - Sep. 1994.


• Research Assistant. Numerical modeling in underwater structural acoustics. FORTRAN 77/90 numerical modeling/simulations.
• UNIX (DEC ULTRIX) system management including NFS, NIS, DNS, TCP/IP.

Earl & Wright Consulting Engineers, San Francisco, Ca., Jul. 1987 - Dec. 1987.

• Associate Engineer. Software development, conversion and maintenance of structural and hydrodynamic codes used in the development of off-shore drilling platforms.

The University of Michigan, Dept. of Naval Architecture and Marine Eng., Ann Arbor, Sep. 1986 - May 1987.

• Teaching Assistant. Assisted in compiling Ship Resistance and Propulsion course material and a student guide to various finite element codes.

The University of New Mexico, Institute of Modern Optics, Dept. of Physics, Albuquerque, May 1984 - Dec. 1985.

• Research Assistant. Numerical studies of soliton evolution in stimulated Raman scattering.

The University of Texas, Hubble Space Telescope Astrometry Science Team, Dept. of Astronomy, Austin, Oct. 1978 - May 1982.

• Laboratory Assistant. Development of data reduction programs, modeling of the Space Telescope's guidance systems. Extensive use of Program Design Language (PDL)

Volunteer Work:

Earthwatch Dusky Dolphin Research Project, Kaikoura, New Zealand Feb 2004

Formal Education:

- Georgia Institute of Technology: M.S., Ph.D in Mechanical Engineering, Jun. 1994
- The University of Michigan: M.S. in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, May 1987
- The University of Texas: B.S. in Mathematics, B.A. in Astronomy, May 1982
- Lycée International de Saint-Germain-en-Laye: International Baccalaureate, June 1978

Academic Honors, Awards, and Grants:

- NASA Group Achievement Award for the Spitzer Space Telescope Mission Operations Team, May 2004.
- National Research Council (NRC) Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Award, Sept. 1995 (declined).
- NASA Certificate of Recognition for contributions to the Hubble Space Telescope Program, Nov. 1991.
- Georgia Institute of Technology President's Fellowship (1988-92).
- University of Texas at Austin Department of Astronomy Outstanding Senior Award, 1982.
- University of Texas at Austin Honor Scholar 1978 -1982.

Publications:

J. Schmidt, G. Turek, M. P. Clark, M. Uddstrom, and J. R. Dymond, Probabilistic forecasting of shallow, rainfall-triggered landslides using real-time numerical weather prediction, Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 8, 349-357, 2008

G. Turek, T. Handley, J. Jacobson, J. Rector, "Registered File Support for Critical Operations Files at SIRTF", ASP Conf. Ser., Vol. 281, Astronomical Data Analysis Software and Systems Xi, EDs. D.A. Bohlender, D. Durand and T.H. Handley (San Francisco: ASP 2002), p.251.

I. Heinrichsen, J. Chavez, B. Hartley, Y. Mei, S. Potts, T. Roby, G. Turek, E. Valjavec and X. Wu, "The Scientific Uplink and User Support System for SIRTF.", ASP Conf. Ser., Vol. 216, Astronomical Data Analysis Software and Systems IX, eds. N. Manset, C. Veillet and D. Crabtree (San Francisco: ASP 2000), p.319.

I. Heinrichsen, B. Hartley, B. Narron, S. Potts, G. Turek, E. Valjavec and X. Wu, "The Scientific Uplink System for SIRTF, a Design Study.", ASP Conf. Ser., Vol. 172, Astronomical Data Analysis Software and Systems VIII, eds. D. M. Mehringer, R. L. Plante and D. A. Roberts (San Francisco: ASP 1999), p.107.

G. Turek and W.A. Kuperman, "Applications of Matched Field Processing to Structural Vibration Problems." J. Acoust. Soc. Am., 101 (3) Mar. 1997.

G. Turek and W.A. Kuperman, "Localizing Narrowband Sources of Vibration in Simple Structures." Proceedings of the ASME Noise Control and Acoustics Division (1995 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition, San Francisco, CA. 12-17 November 1995), NCA Vol. 21, pp. 103-110

W. A. Kuperman and G. Turek, "Matched Field Acoustics." Proceedings of the SFM/IMEKO/SFA 2^nd International Symposium on Acoustical and Vibratory Surveillance Methods and Diagnostic Techniques, Senlis, France, 10-12 October 1995, Vol. II, pp. 737-746.

K. Druhl and G. Alsing, "Effect of Coherence Relaxation on the Propagation of Optical Solitons: an Analytical and Numerical Case Study on Asymptotic Perturbation Theory," Physica 20D (1986), pp. 429-434.

F. Bash and G. Turek, "Galactic HII Regions, Anomalous 1720 MHz Clouds and Spiral Structure in the Galaxy," in Kinematics, Dynamics, and Structure of the Milky Way , ed. W. L. H. Shuter (D. Reidel Publishing Co., 1983) pp. 179-182.

Abstracts:

J. Schmidt, G.Turek, I. Matcham, S. Reese, R. Bell, A. King, "RiskScape - an innovative tool for multi-hazard risk modelling." Geophysical Research Abstracts, Vol. 9, 05782, 2007 SRef-ID: 1607-7962/gra/EGU2007-A-05782. European Geosciences Union 2007

G. Turek, P.H. Rogers and A.A. Ferri, "Multiple Scattering from Submerged Bodies with Dissimilar Acoustical Properties. Part I Local Impedance Models." (129th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, Washington, D.C., 30 May - 3 June 1995). J. Acoustic. Soc. Am. 97, p. 3421.

G. Turek, P.H. Rogers, A.A. Ferri and G.W. Caille, "Multiple Scattering from Submerged Bodies with Dissimilar Acoustical Properties. Part II Experimental Results." (129th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, Washington, D.C., 30 May - 3 June 1995). J. Acoustic. Soc. Am. 97, pp. 3421-3422.

Affiliations

Association for Computing Machinery
IEEE Computer Society
USENIX

Foreign Language Skills:

Fluent in Italian and French.

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